Klein is one of three Pocono Record readers who reported seeing a three-legged bear in the Poconos this summer.

Last week, a reader in Tobyhanna sent a photo of a three-legged bear. And there have also been sightings in the area of Penn Estates in Stroud Township.

Experts said seeing a bear missing a limb is uncommon but not unheard of.

Most times, it happens after a bear suffers a traumatic leg injury, either by being struck by a vehicle or an errant bullet during hunting season, according to Kevin Wenner, wildlife management supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“We do occasionally see bears showing up missing a leg in the harvest,” Wenner said.

After a bear loses a limb, it can clean the wound and eventually it will heal over, Wenner said. Afterward, it can walk almost normally.

Klein said the bear she saw had no limp or hitch in its walk.

“It's always amazing the injuries that animals are able to persist through,” Wenner said. “When you think of the injuries that put us humans down, we have a low pain threshold.”

Wenner pointed out that bears can recover from major injuries with the benefit of having few natural predators in our area. Smaller, prey animals would have a more difficult time avoiding predators while recovering from those injuries.

He said he's seen some bears in the field who continue to thrive despite losing a limb. In one case, a female bear raised cubs despite a missing limb.

“I've seen or heard of a variety of healed-over injuries that just amaze you,” he said.

Wenner said there's a decent chance that the bear that Klein saw could be the same bear seen in Tobyhanna.

Bears have been known to cover large distances, especially during their mating season, which runs from June through July.

“Don't rule that out,” he said. “The males are making some big moves — 20-30 miles is no problem for a bear.”

Even one with three legs.

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